Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 48827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 244(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 163(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 244(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 163(@300wpm)
CHAPTER 11
Zachariah
The club Jocelyn rented out for her annual Halloween party is packed to the brim with not only the king’s assassins, his inner circle, and rookie assassins, but with plenty of witches and warlocks and demons and even a few lycan.
Despite adjusting to the modern times, it’s still a little shocking to see such open and trusting intermingling between the species. I spent the first two centuries of my life in conflict with all of these beings, and while it’s hard to shut down old instincts, I’m impressed by the progress we’ve all made over the centuries.
I certainly admire Jocelyn—who’s the most brilliant and powerful witch I've ever met—for hosting all of us tonight. I’ll also be forever in her debt for the smile she’s putting on Talia’s face right now.
Talia and Jocelyn are across the club, leaning against the wide ebony bar, chatting about something I make an effort not to eavesdrop on. Especially as Talia tips her head back and laughs in a way I haven't seen her do in a very long time.
I could listen in—I’m that desperate to gain any insight into what made Talia smile—but I’ll never betray her trust like that. Especially after what she said last week following our hot-as-hell session in the king's gardens.
She still didn't trust me. With her body, sure, but with her heart? With the significance of sharing blood? Not a chance.
But I’m doing everything I can to earn her trust back, including going against every primal instinct to protect her that I have and including her in every single aspect of missions and hunting and everything in between. I know how strong she is, how powerful. Know she doesn’t need my protection…it’s just the damned instincts screaming otherwise that I have to fight.
“She looks like she's adjusting well,” Alek says as he walks up to my side. He glances at Talia, and then at his mate who joins Talia and Jocelyn at the bar, Grace and Cassandra following behind.
“I’ll never be able to repay those females’ kindness,” I say, dipping my head toward the group of girls who are chatting and laughing. They clink their glasses together and take drinks as they all slowly move to the music that's thumping through the crowded space.
Everyone is in costume, as per Jocelyn’s requirement—no, really, she warded the club so if you weren't in costume you wouldn't be able to pass through the doors.
There are several vampires who elected to wear a simple black mask over their eyes—me being one of them—just doing the minimum in order to join the party. There are some creatures in more elaborate costumes, several from popular comic book movies that I know Ajax obsessed over when we'd first awoken, and some more classic and simple costumes like ghosts and zombies.
Alek is decorated in a costume that complements Lyric’s, the pair of them looking like the queens and pharaohs from ancient times.
Talia put on a pair of cat ears and a tail with her standard huntress outfit, the sight of which made me want to cross the space between us and wend her to the closest private space.
“We have a good family here,” Alek continues, smiling and dipping his head at the lone, unattached human in the club, Daphne, who’s dressed in an elaborate cream and pink colored Victorian dress that likely was plucked from one of the females’ personal collection from that era.
Daphne waves timidly at the vampire king before she smiles and nods at her cousin, who’s on the dance floor with her highlander mate.
Daphne does a small curtsey that looks terribly awkward before she moves toward the bar, only to make a quick left turn down a darkened hallway that likely leads to employee rooms.
My instincts prickle, and I shift my stance. “As the only unattached human in a building filled with supernaturals,” I say to Alek, “should she be venturing down dark hallways unsupervised?” I ask, trying not to sound like an ancient prick. The women of this time are more than capable of taking care of themselves, but Daphne didn’t have a supernatural escort, and in this room? It put me on edge.
“No,” Alek says. “She really shouldn't, but she might just be needing a moment to herself. Let's give her a minute before we send out the search party.”
I dip my head in agreement.
When there’s no sign of her after five minutes, I share a look with Alek as we both start moving in that direction.
Her cousin Valor must be thinking the same thing, because her and Lachlan are heading our direction as well.
Daphne steps out of the hallway just as we reach the end of it, a flush on her cheeks. Her eyes widen and she jolts at the sight of us.
“You okay?” Valor asks first.
Daphne glances at each of us, shaking her head. “The human is fine,” she says a bit sarcastically, and I cough to cover my laugh. “I'm just thirsty,” she says, pushing away from her concerned cousin and heading toward the bar.